He stands to his feet. “You’re going inside?”
“Yep.” I’m about to close the door when he speaks again.
“For the night?”
“Uh, yeah. That's usually how it works.” I close the door in his face and lock it. I breathe out a sigh of good riddance and make my way upstairs. I methodically get ready for bed but don’t allow myself to dwell on any of the events of today. A few minutes later, I find myself in bed. But as badly as I want to sleep, I can’t. I stare up at the ceiling for a little while before twistingand turning as I try to get comfortable. My mind drifts to the male sitting outside, and I wonder if he’s finally left. I remind myself that I don’t care and roll over and try to sleep once again.
It takes a while, but finally, I fall asleep. It’s a fitful sleep, though. I keep dreaming of dragons, and it feels stressful. My heart races, and I keep waking up. I throw my covers back mid-morning and head to the shower, hoping a hot shower will erase my intense dreams from last night. I don’t plan on thinking about Rauk or his dragon ever again.
Chapter 4
I jog down the stairs and open the front door. But before I can step outside, the side door opens and a voice stops me. “Harper.”
“Hey, Eliza. What’s up?”
Eliza and I have a tenuous relationship. She tolerates me, and I try my best not to mess up the good thing I have going living here. “Who was that man last night?”
“What man?” She gives me a look. “All right. Fine. He’s the king of the Dragon Kingdom.”
Her eyes go wide. “Really?”
“Yep, but don’t get too excited. He's a jerk, the biggest jerk on the planet. How does a guy like that stay alive? I can’t believe his own people haven’t murdered him yet.”
Her eyes go wide and focus on something behind me, and I mutter under my breath. “He’s still here, isn’t he?”
She nods, her eyes wide. I don’t even bother trying to work myself out of the situation. I whirl around. “Why are you still here?”
If I thought he looked irritated before, that’s nothing to right now. “Noxlyn won’t let me leave.”
“Noxlyn? Like Nox for short?” I snort. “I can’t wait to tell Lox that his name rhymes with your dragon’s.” He doesnotlook impressed. “All right. Well, I’m off. Have fun...what is it again you’re doing?” He just stares at me with that look of contempt. “Right. Well, you do you.” I take a step forward, but he blocks my path. I look up at him, refusing to be intimidated by the sheer size of him. “Did you need something?”
“We’re at an impasse,” he says in a voice that’s even more grating than yesterday.
“Are we though?”
He’s quiet a moment. “You’re coming with me.”
I shake my head.The nerve of this guy. “Does it even occur to you to ask?”
“Not usually. Everybody in my kingdom just obeys me.”
“Yeah, well you’re forgetting one important detail.”
“What’s that?” he asks.
“You’re not my king.”
“We’ll see about that,” he grounds out.
I laugh at that. “Sure, we will.”
“Harper?”
I spin around at the sound of Kinsley’s voice and see her standing next to her mate, Kaldar, the king of the Jaguar Kingdom. “Hey. I didn’t know you guys were coming today.”
Kinsley stares between Rauk and I. “We came a few days early.”
Kaldar, ever the noble one, walks over to us. “Rauk.” He puts outhis hand.
